Couscous for Breakfast

Morning rituals have become so valuable to me over the years. They help re-calibrate and stabilize my mood and stomach after waking. This prepares the mind and body for action and creation. And yes, the stomach, so tightly is it interwoven with the mood. So I make sure to gift it an easy, calm start. I wait at least an hour after waking before checking my phone or any devices. I find that this helps train my mind a bit to be more aware of the now, and it’s made me more effective and creative throughout the day.

Rolling out of bed, I do some rotations, stretches and deep breathing –inhalation, exhalation, parsing the stream of thoughts entering my brain. Then, birdsong fills my head and the air in the room. With my eyes closed, I often attempt to identify the different species by ear. I’m weird that way, but this time of year in Cologne, where I am at the moment, the swifts and swallows have returned from their winter homes along both sides of the Mediterranean. An exciting time! There’s always a few of them screaming past my window. I love it. I get up from my floor pillow, joints crackling, and do my thing. I slide over the wooden surface to the bathroom sink, splash my face with icy water and brush my teeth. Then, I hit the kitchen, pour some warm water in a bowl and drink it. Afterward, I eat a thumb-sized piece of ginger, and if going to the gym, I’ll eat a banana and a couple chunks of cacao. The subtle sweetness of the banana frames the flavorful cacao, and the cacao frames the banana. Sometimes I even sprinkle some sea salt on the banana. But that’s crazy! Don’t mind me.

If it’s a run day, though, ginger is enough to give me a nice boost. Especially, on those run days, I love to return home and eat something nutritious, fruity, refreshing, with light carbs and super flavor. It’s also a plus if I can make it kind of quickly. This recipe is one of my morning favorites, borrowed from a dear friend who swears by it. Couscous for breakfast. What?! Hey, it’s a good thing. Full of vibes and it doesn’t weigh you down or bloat your belly like oats do — I love oatmeal, by the way — so post-meal, you’re good to go. Hope this helps you win the day!

If you have any alternative recipes or additions, please share it in the comments. I get so consumed by my rhythm sometimes, so it’s nice to get new ideas. Enjoy!

In a small pot on high heat, bring milk and juice to just under a boil.

Place couscous in a heat-resistant bowl, inundate with the hot concoction. I like to let my tonka, cinnamon and salt soak in the couscous brew, so I grate some in there. And while I’m at it, I might as well stir in the cranberries, too.

Let rest under cover for about 10 minutes until liquid is fully absorbed. Then fluff up with a fork. Usually while waiting for the couscous, I like to save time by roasting the nuts in a dry frying pan over a medium heat. I give the pan a few whipping motions here and there to make they golden evenly.

Add the roasted nuts to the fluffy couscous and gently toss together. Then, add some nice, sliced apples and bananas on top, and mix.

To garnish, Cacao! I love to indulge myself. Grate onto surface, but be generous;)

Serve warm or at room temperature. Add honey or maple syrup if you like.